The health benefits of gratitude & kindness
Gratitude has been on my mind a lot!
As the year closes, and another begins, I always get more reflective, and I am so grateful to be doing work that I love and to have the opportunity to work with so many kind and wonderful people.
Experiencing gratitude
Also, I signed up for the Mayo Clinic’s month-long self-directed Gratitude Program and have really enjoyed it. It involved a very simple exercise of writing down things you are grateful for on a daily basis.
Here are some of the lovely things I experienced and learned doing this practice:
I’ve noticed that the simple act of reflecting on the good in my life has contributed to a greater sense of peace and security.
Noticing all the gifts in my life right before I go to bed creates peace and contentment, which has made it easier to fall asleep.
Knowing that I’m going to list the things I’m grateful for every evening, has helped me be more mindful of the blessings in my life as I go through the day. This helps me feel more appreciation and joy which contributes to my emotional wellbeing.
Expressing gratitude
What I hadn’t really thought about before starting this Gratitude Program is how important it is to express gratitude. The skill of noticing the many blessings in our life is one thing, but it is just as important to express that gratitude. As this article on the Mayo Clinic’s website explains:
“Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. …
Positive gestures benefit you by releasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps connect people. …You'll also benefit the person on the other end of the gesture. After all, who doesn't like to be thanked for their efforts or just for being who they are? Sharing kindness can make you healthier and happier.”
This sentiment is also reflected in this moving YouTube video: An Experiment in Gratitude - The Science of Happiness
Gratitude and kindness
There were a few others who had signed up for the Gratitude Program at the same time as I did, and I loved hearing one participant’s reflections on how much gratitude and kindness are linked:
“We know that sharing acts of kindness and developing greater mindfulness can shift a person into greater positivity and improved health. I’ve noticed that I have become more aware of the kindness of people I meet in the stores, on the street and in my circle of friends. A smile or a simple greeting from another draws out the same in me and inside there is a feeling that maybe things are better than what we hear or read in the news.”
This reminded me of how I connected with this gratitude practice in the first place when I had been thinking about how to build resilience in the face of some of the negativity in the world. Now that I'm almost at the end of the month-long Gratitude Program, I do think this practice is a powerful tool that can boost our well-being and provide a buffer to the negative forces in the world.
I would encourage you to try this practice if you are looking for a positive shift in your mental health for the new year, and would love to hear any of your experiences with it.
